Articulatable planer guide arrangement



Feb. 28, 1967 G. DOMMANN ETAL 3,306,664

` ARTICULATABLE PLANER GUIDE ARRANGEMENT med oct. 22, 196s y 2 sheetsheet 1 a #Poems/S Feb. 28, 1967 G. DOMMANN ETAL 3,305,664

ARTIGULATABLE PLANER GUIDE ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 22, 1965 30 Figc? 29 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Wo R MID/5 United States Patent O 3,306,664 ARTICULATABLE PLANER GUIDE ARRANGEMENT Gnther Dommann, Wethmar, near Lunen, Helmut Temme, Lunen, Armin Lbbe, Oberaden, Post Kamen, and Christoph Rassmann, Lunen, Germany, assignors to Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia, Westphalia, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Oct. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 317,955 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 26, 1962,

G 36,235; Mar. 27, 1963, G 37,368

21 Claims. (Cl. 299-34) The present invention relates to an articulatable planer guide arrangement, and more parti-cularly to such an arrangement in which elongated sections are interrupted by shorter guide link members for Iachieving articulation of the longitudinally disposed planer guide -arrangement with a minimum of wear and tear on the working parts.

In the extraction of minerals, such as coal, by moving a mining planer back and forth along a mine face, it is customary to guide the extracted mineral, such as coal, onto a mining conveyor, Such mining conveyor is frequently provided on one side wit-h guiding means for the planer, such as a guiding tube, with the idle part of the drive chain being able to return through the hollow guiding tube. Mining arrangements of this kind are advanced into the mine face being worked Iby feed cylinders of the hydraulic type which press the conveyor arrangement toward the newly exposed mine face as the work progresses.

Automatic mining -arrangements or digging systems of the foregoing kind, however, are subject to very great wear due to the excessive forces involved, land the heavy equipment which must be moved. Such wear is apparent most of all -at the connections between adjacent sections lof the mining conveyor and/or guiding tube or planer guiding means, in particular as a consequence of the bending or articulating of the various sections with respect to one another during the mining operation. Understandably, as the planer moves along the guiding means, the individual vsections of 'che guiding means and, in turn, of the mining convey-or will be'advanced so that each section will execute articulations with respect to the adjacent sections with which the same is connected. Moreover, inasmuch yas the mine floor is often uneven, not only articulations with respect to a vertical axis but also articulations with respect to a horizontal axis will occur; all such articulations increase the propensity of wear at the abutting ends of connected sections.

Additional stresses are produced during mining operations at the sa-me end points of connection between sections of the conveyor and/or guide means due to the upsetting forces or end thrust forces acting lengthwise on the joined sections. The end thrust forces lare generally caused by the tension of the scraper chains of the conveyor and the tension of the planer drive chain housed within the guide means.

Naturally, with the articulation of the various sections of the guide means and conveyor, the stresses on lthe adjacent parts are even greater. Most of all, however, where the mine iloor is at an angle with the horizontal, the end thrust for-ces on the sections is particularly pronounced and increases as the incline of the mine floor becomes steeper. A signifi-cant factor in this connection is the inherent weight of the extracted mineral on the conveyor in addition to the inherent weight of the conveyor sections and the guide means sections, whereby the upsetting -or end thrust forces produced longitudinally of the arrangement rea-ch excessive and detrimental values insofar as wear and tear on the adjacent parts is concerned. Added to the foregoing is the fact that the stresses ICC are even further increased fas the speed of movement of the drive chain increases, which, in turn, is dependent upon the required output of extracted mineral.

As to the guiding arrangements for the planer, various constructions are known in which the guiding means is disposed on the working face side exclusively, i.e. on the side of the conveyor adjacent the mine face, as well as those in which the guiding means are disposed on the side of the conveyor remote from the rnine face. Additionally, constructions are known in which the guiding means for the planer and the drive chain there-for are provided on both sides of the conveyor.

Because of the propensity of excessive Wear in arrangements of the type in question, attempts have been made to harden the ends of the various sections, for example, of the conveyor, whereby to reduce Wear. Furthermore, it has been attempted to strengthen the sections at their ends Iby welding thereon various structural forms or shapes or by other expedients. In such cases, the c-onveyor, as well -as the guiding means for the planer, still consist of a plurality of separate sections coupled to one another, the individual sections being identical. For such arrangements, the feeding force or advancing force produced by the advancing cylinders is applied at any point along the conveyor desired, and this means that the conveyor must be designed -over its entire length in such a manner as to be capable of withstanding these feeding forces which are applied indiscriminately along the arrangement.

In cro-pending U.S. application Serial No. 300,285, filed August 6, 1963, a particular type of guiding arrangement for a mining conveyor is shown, such -arrange-ment being used together with fa mining conveyor in the manner described hereinabove. Various guiding arrangements and conveyor constructions of a conventional nature are described in said co-pending application, but in every case no provision is made specically to reduce the wear and tear on the adjacent sections,l i.e. especially at the articulating end portions thereof.

It is an object of lche present invention to overcome the foregoing drawbacks and to provide a planer guide link and a planer guide arrangement for use with a mining planer for extracting minerals, such as coal, free from the excessive wear and tear experienced with prior art constructions.

It is a further Aobject `of the present invention to provide such planer guide link and planer guide arrangement for use in the automatic extraction of minerals, such as coal, with a planer, while keeping the total weight of the rnechanical digging or extracting system as low as possible, whereby to maintain within toleralble limits the upsetting forces `or end thrust forces produced by the inherent weight of the arrangement when the same is advanced toward the mine face or is positioned on a mine floor at a steep incline with respect to the horizont-al.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a planer guide link and planer guide arrangement permitting suitable articulation between adjacent sections with a minimum yof wear and tear on the parts, yet with the conveyor arrangement still representing the main support or actual backbone -of the automatic digging or extracting system with which the guiding arrangement for the pl-aner is used.

Other and further -objects of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the Within specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a portion of a planer guide arrangement in accordance with the present invention showing Iintervening planer guide links and ac companying conveyor sections between adjacent elongated planer guide members with their accompanying conveyor sections.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic partial view of an arrangement similar to that of FIG. l,

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2, indicating the positional relationship of the planer shown in phantom to the guiding means and conveyor,

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the relationship of structure and articulation between a guide link member and adjacent elongated planer guide members, in accordance with the invention,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial perspective views of end portions of a planer guide member and guide link member, respectively, illustrating specic constructional details,

FIG. 7 is a partial view lof a section similar to that of FIG. 4, illustrating the clearance between the drive chain for the planer and the adjacent guideway therefor in the reinforced guide link member on the one hand and planer guide member on the other hand,

FIG. 8 is a partial plan view showing a particular ernbodiment of the invention similar to that of FIG. 1,

FIG. 9 is a partial plan View Ashowing an alternate embodiment of the invention to that shown in FIG. 8,

FIGS. 10 and 11 represent in perspective the adjacent ends of a planer guide member and guide link member, with the guide link member of FIG. 11 illustrating the wings or shoulders which are received within the adjacent ends of the corresponding planer guide members.

FIG. 12 is a partial front view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and l1, illustrating the positional relationship of adjacent planer guide means having a guide link member interposed articulatingly therebetween, and

FIG. 13 is a partial view in section, taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12, which illustrates the clearance between the drive chain of the planer and the surrounding portions of the planer guide members and guide link member, in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 7.

It has been found in accordance with the present invention that a planer guide link may be provided for articulatingly joining together individual planer guide and/ or driving chain guide sections of a mining arrangement, and especially where used in connection with mining conveyors, for reducing to a minimum wear and tear on the abutting, articulated parts. The planer guide generally comprises a guide link member havin-g a shorter longitudinal dimension than the transverse dimension thereof, the guide link member having a longitudinally extending planer guide surface on one lateral side thereof and longitudinally extending channel means on the other lateral side thereof. The upper portion of the channel means is provided with a longitudinal slit therealong and longitudinally extending linking edge means are disposed on each longitudinal end of the guide link member for linking the longitudinal ends thereof with corresponding ends of planer guide members to form thereby an articulatable planer guide arrangement.

Convieniently, a mining conveyor section of corresponding longitudinal dimension is attached to each guide link member at the lateral side thereof remote from the planer guide surface. Optionally, the guide link member and the mining conveyor section in each case may be integral or the same may be disposed in adjacency without any direct connection therebetween. The guide link member is preferably of solid form with the channel means extending longitudinally completely therethrough. The linking edge means may be dened -by longitudinally inwardly extending slots in the ends of the guide link member or by longitudinally outwardly extending wings or shoulders on the ends of such member, with the appropriate alternate form of slots or wings being provided in the adjacent planer guide member with which the guide link member is articulated to form the longitudinally extending guiding means arrangement.

More specifically, the planer guide arrangement is adapted to rest on a mine oor for guiding a planer longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, such arrangement including a plurality of elongated planer guide members adjacent one another in longitudinal alignment, a corresponding guide link member having a shorter longitudinal dimension than the transverse dimension thereof articulatingly interposed between the adjacent ends of at least some of the planer guide members, elongated upper groove means disposed longitudinally along the upper portion of the planer `guide member on one lateral side thereof, elongated lower groove means disposed lon-gitudinally along the lower portion of said planer guide member on the other lateral side thereof, elongated track means extending longitudinally between the upper and lower groove means, longitudinally extending channel means on one lateral side of each guide link member and a longtitudinally extending planer guide link surface on the other lateral side of each guide link member. In this connection, the said one lateral side of the guide link member in the arrangement is the same side as the said one lateral side of the planer guide member, Whereas the other lateral side of the yguide link member is correspondingly the same side as the other lateral side of the planer guide member. The upper portion of the channel means of the guide link member is advantageously provided with a longitudinal slit therealong, such that the upper groove means of the planer guide member are in longitudinal alignment with each corresponding upper porti-on -of the channel means of the guide link member and the slit thereof, whereas the track means are in longitudinal alignment with each corresponding planer guide link sur-y face.

Significantly, the guide link members are composed entirely of more lreinforced construction than that of the planer guide members, utilizing thicker walls and even a solid construction for the most part to achieve a sturdy linkage member capable of withstanding excessive forces of the type described hereinabove which would normally readily cause excessive wear on adjacent planer guide members not provided with intervening guide link members in accordance with the invention. Advantageously, the instant arrangement forms an articulated reinforced longitudinal support means adapted to extend along a mine face for supportingly receiving a planer thereon for traveltherealong in sliding abutment with the track means and in turn the planer guide link surface, with corresponding portions of such planer being slidably retained in the lower groove means and in the upper groove means and in turn in the upper portion of the channel means through the corresponding slit to permit the planer to be conducted along the support means without displacement transversely thereof while permitting the support means to articulate at the guide link members without undue Wear on the adjacent planer guide members.

If desired, the planer guide members and guide link members may be attached at the lateral side thereof remote from the mine face to correspondingly longitudinally dimensioned sections of a mining conveyor, and while the attachment may be achieved by providing the corresponding conveyor sections integral with the planer guide members and/or guide link members as the case may be, the present invention also contemplates the attachment alternately of only the planer guide members or the guide link members with the appropriately dimensioned sections of the mining conveyor. The longitudinally extending linking edge means of the planer guide members and guide link members, of course, will include a slot on the one hand and a wing or shoulder on the other hand, cooperating with one another to form an articulated linkage permitting a reduction in the wear and tear of the abutting parts over that experienced with prior art constructions not having the instant guide link members.

Significantly, the width of the upper portion of the channel means of the guide link member is slightly narr'ower than that of the corresponding Iupper groove means of the planer guide members to reduce the wear of the planer guide members at the expense of the guide link members where these parts are articulatingly disposed at a slight angle with respect to one another.

Each guide link member may be provided optionally with a link member lower groove on the side thereof adjacent the mine face, such lower groove being in alignment with the lower groove means of the adjacent planer guide members to permit the passage of the planer readily therealong. Furthermore, at least some of the planer guide members and/or guide link members may be provided with a knife probe laterally outwardly of the lower groove means and/ or link member lower grooves, respectively, for engaging the lower portion of the adjacent mine face thereat to prevent transverse tilting of the arrangement with respect to the mine face under the operating forces.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an improvement in a planer guide arrangement adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding a planer longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face is provided, the arrangement including a plurality of adjacent elongated mining conveyor sections adapted to extend longitudinally along a mine face, the conveyor sections having opposing vertical side wall means and a central horizontal conveyor path means, and a corresponding plurality of adjacent elongated planer guide sections disposed longitudinally along said conveyor sections and secured at a corresponding lateral side to said conveyor sections respectively, each said guide section including upper groove means on one lateral side thereof, said one side being the side adjacent the corresponding conveyor section, lower groove means on the other lateral side of said guide section, track means extending between said upper and lower groove means and lower passageway means disposed below said upper groove means, said upper groove means representing the housing for the forward drive cable means for driving the planer and a guideway for the portion of the planer to which the drive cable means are attached, said lower passageway means representing the housing for the return drive cable means, said lower groove means representing a guideway for slidably retaining a corresponding portion of such planer, and said track means representing a support surface for slidably receiving such planer thereon for travel therealong. The improvement in accordance with this embodiment specifically comprises a corresponding guide link member having a shorter longitudinal dimension than the transverse dimension thereof articulatingly interposed between adjacent planer guide sections, each link member having a longitudinally extending upper channel means provided with a longitudinal slit therealong in alignment with the corresponding upper groove means of the adjacent guide sections, a longitudinally extending lower channel means in alignment with the corresponding lower passageway means of the adjacent guide sections, and a longitudinally extending planer guide surface in alignment with the corresponding track means of the adjacent guide sections, with the guide link members being entirely of more reinforced construction than that of the adjacent guide sections and with the upper channel means and lower channel means having a width slightly less than or narrower than that of the corresponding upper groove means and lower passageway means, respectively. Hence, there is formed an articulated reinforced longitudinal sectional arrangement adapted to extend along a mine face While accommodating unevenness. in the mine Hoor and mine face for supportingly receiving a planer thereon for travel therealong in sliding abutment with the track means and in turn the planer guide surfaces with corresponding portions of such planer being slidably retained in the lower groove means and the upper groove means and in turn the upper channel means through the corresponding slits,

6 to permit the planer to be conducted along the sectional arrangement Without displacement transversely thereof while permitting the arrangement to articulate at the guide link members without undue wear on the adjacent planer guide sections even under substantial longitudinal thrust.

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1, a double chain scraper conveyor composed of long conveyor sections 10 and short conveyor sections 11 is provided, with the overall construction thereof being similar to that, for example, disclosed in the U.S. Patents 2,810,565 issued October 22, 1957, and 2,990,168, issued June A27, 19611. On the side of the conveyor adjacent the mine face, the elongated planer guide members 12 are disposed alternately with the guide link members 13 which have a short longitudinal dimension which corresponds with that of the short conveyor sections 11. The planer guide arrangement is advanced toward the mine face, i.e. toward the left as shown in FIG. 1, 4by means of the hydraulic advancing cylinders 26 of conventional design. The advancing cylinders 26 may be of the double acting piston-cylinder type and may be provided with a vertical pit prop at the end thereof remote from the conveyor arrangement, whereby when the pit prop is extended into engagement with the mine ceiling and mine floor, the advancing cylinder 26 may urge the conveyor arrangement toward the left, and upon such advancement, the pit prop (not shown) may be released from engagement and the cylinder displaced toward the left. In this way, the pit prop may be extended into engagement once more with the mine ceiling and mine iioor -to permit the advancing cylinder 26 to urge the conveyor arrangement toward the left an additional increment at the appropriate time. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that -the long planer guide members 12 and the long conveyor sections `10, on the one hand, and the short guide link members 13 together with the short conveyor sections 11 on the other hand may articulate with respect to one another along the longitudinal extent of the arrangement not only to accommodate unevenness in the mine floor and the mine face but also to permit the conveyor and guiding arrangement to be advanced by the advancing cylinders 26 in sections. Thus, the guiding link members 13 are articulatingly connected with the planer guide members 12 for this purpose.

In FIG. 2, an enlarged view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 is shown, but with the advancing cylinder 26 being omitted. A suitable eyelet is provided on the side of the short conveyor sections 11 remote from the mine ace to accommodate the corresponding advancing cylinder and permit pivoting of the cylinder around a vertical axis of pivot. This may be achieved by providing a vertical pin extending through such eyelet which is connected to the advancing cylinder mechanism. The wings or shoulders 15 on each side of the guide link member 13 extend into suitable recesses or slots in the adjacent long planer guide members 12 whereby suitable articulation may be effected efficiently between the long guide members 12 and the short guide link members 13.

yIn the embodiment shown, which is more clearly evident in FIG. 3, a planer 14, shown in phantom, is mounted on the guide means composed of the alternating long planer guide members 12 and the short guide link members 13 for travel back and forth therealong as the planer 14 is in engagement with the mine face. The mineral which is extracted is guided by the planer as well as by the guide means 12, 13 onto the conveyor for removal from the site of operations. A backing plate 11 is provided on the conveyor at the side thereof remote from the mine face to prevent -the overflow of extracted mineral guided thereon by ,the coaction of the moving planer 14 and the guiding means 12, 13. The extracted mineral is conveyed away from the site of operations in the conventional manner, for example by a scraper bar mechanism (not shown) comprising parallel chains interconnected along their common length by lscraper bars for conveying the coal or other mineral from the place of extraction. The conveyor arrangement generally includes a scraper surface forming a central horizontal conveyor path as well as a pair of side walls, one carrying the backing plate 11 and the other being attached to the guiding arrangement 13 or '12 as the case may be.

It can be seen from FIG. 3 that in the embodiment shown, the guide link member 13 is of reinforced or solid construction with the upper channel 19 and the lower channel 23 being provided longitudinally completely therethrough to accommodate the driving chain 22 or other drive cable means for conducting the planer 14 along its path of travel. Specifically, the upper or for-ward drive chain portion is accommodated within the upper channel 19 whereas the lower or return chain portion is accommodated within the lower channel 23. Appropriate driving systems for conveying the planer 14 along the mine face are well known and examples of these are disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,810,565, and 2,990,168 noted above. Conveniently, the lug portion 21 of the planer 14 to which the forward chain is attached travels within the upper channel 19 via the longitudinal slit 2l) provided therealong. The remainder of the planer 14 extends downwardly onto the guide surface 156 of the link member 13 with an appropriate portion being retained within the lower groove 25 formed between the guide surface 16 and the upwardly facing yflange 18.

lFor a more effective engagement with the mine face, a laterally outwardly extending knife probe 17 in the form of a flange may be optionally provided laterally beyond the projection or flange 18. Due to the transverse urging of the cylinder arrangement 26 appropriately disposed thereat, the short conveyor section 11 and in turn the short link member 13 is pressed against the mine face with sufficient force to arch short section 1'1 and short link member 13.

Optionally, section 11 and member 13 may be secured rigidly to one another or provided in an integral manner as well as in the form of adjacent parts only loosely connected to one another or only indirectly connected to one another via appropriate direct connections between the adjacent long planer ,guide members 12 and their corresponding long conveyor sections 10.

In FIG. 4, the articulatingly connected members are shown in section to illustrate the narrower dimensions of the upper and lower channels 19 and 23, respectively of the link member 13 as compared with the upper groove 19' and the lower passageway 24 of the adjacent long planer guide members 12. Furthermore, the cooperation between the wings or shoulders of member 13 and the appropriate portions of the adjacent members 12 can be appreciated. Hence, where a longitudinal thrust is experienced by the guide arrangement, the same is taken up by the short link members 13 without detriment due to the reinforced construction thereof.

In FIG. 5, the appropriate upper groove 19 having a slit 20 thereat is shown wherein the lug portion 21 of the planer 14 will be `slidably received du-ring the back and forth travel of the planer. The forward chain is also received in the upper groove 19 whereas the return chain will ybe accommodated in the lower passageway 24 therebelow. The track means 16 acts as 4a support surface for the planer traveling therealong with the depending portion of the planer being slidably retained within the lower groove 25' formed between the appropriate portion of track 16' and the upwardly facing flange 18. The laterally outwardly directed knife probe 17 similarly serves to engage the planer guide member 12 with the mine face.

In FIG. 6, the appropriate portions of the link member of FIG. 3 are illustrated in greater detail, especially with respect to the wings or shoulders 15 which are provided lat each end of a particular link member. It will be seen that the upper groove 19 and slit 20 of the guide member 12 of FIG. 5 corresponds with and is meant to be aligned (see FIG. 4) with the upper channel 19 and the slit 20 of the link member 13 of FIG. 6. The same is true with respect to the track means 16 and the lower groove 25' of the guide member 12 of FIG. 5 in conjunction with the guide surface 16 and lower groove 25 of the link member 13 of FIG. 6. Similarly, the lower passageway 24 is in suicient alignment with the lower channel 23 (see FIG. 3) that the chain for driving the planer may pass readily therealong. The flanges 18' and 17 of number 12 of FIG. 5 a-re also meant to be in alignment with the flanges 18 and 17 of the link member 13 `of FIG. 6 whereby the planer and chain for driving the same may operate without hindrance along the desired path of travel.

In FIG. 7, the chain 22 is shown passing through adjacent portions of a link member 13 and a guide member 12, which are at a slight angle wit-h respect to one another. The wing 15 permits the proper articulation to take place without disturbing the over-all alignment of the adjacent parts and without causing any obstruction of the channels or grooves. Nevertheless, due to the narrower dimensions of the upper channel 19 with respect to the upper groove 19', any wear which occurs, especially when the members 12 and 13 are at an angle with respect to one another, will occur in the short reinforced link members so as to protect the long less sturdy planer guide members.

In FIG. 8, the short conveyor section 27 is shown fixedly attached to the short link member 28 with the wings 31 of the link member 28 articulatingly engaging the corresponding interior portions or slots of t-he adjacent guide members 30. Guide members 30, in turn, are provided with appropriate long conveyor sections 29. It will be appreciated that while the longitudinal dimension of the link member will be less than the transverse `dimension thereof, in the case of FIG. 8, an extremely short longitudinal dimension is contemplated both for the link member 28 and the corresponding conveyor section 27.

In the case of FIG. 9, on the other hand, the link member 32 is carried loosely by means of the appropriate wings or shoulders 35 between adjacent long guide .members 33. While long conveyor sections 34 are included for the guide members 33, no corresponding short conveyor section is provided for the intermediate link member 32. Instead, the conveyor sections 34 are fixedly secured to the long guide members 33 and articulation is effected at the linkage provided .by the link member 32. Of course, alternately, long conveyor sections could be fixedly attached to the short link members 32 in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 9, such that the long guide mem-bers 33 would not be connected with such conveyor sections directly but only indirectly through the articulated linkage provided by the wings or shoulders 35. The long guide members 33 in accordance wth such alternate construction would then merely remain loosely mounted on the wings 35 so as to enable the desired articulations to take place without detriment.

In FIGS. l0 and 11, the appropriate portions of adjacent members are shown in somewhat spaced relation, wherein it is seen how the shoulders or wings 35 follow the contour of a portion of the inside wall of the adjacent guide member 33, i.e. in the passageway 37 with the upwardly directed flange 33 and the outwardly directed flange or knife probe 39 extending longitudinally past the adjacent end of the guide member 33. In this manner, when the link member 32 is in place, the planer may conveniently pass along its path in `an uninterrupted manne-r from one long guide member to the next despite the fact that the lower portion of the appropriate link member 32 is not provided at its lower end with a lower retaining groove or knife probe. When in place, in the manner shown in FIG. 9, the upper groove 36 of the guide rnember 33 will be in alignment with the upper channel 40 of the link member 32. Of course, an appropriate lower ch-annel (not shown) will be provided .in link member 32 so as to communicate wtih the adjacent lower passage- Ways 37 for accommodating t-he drive chain thereat.

In FIG. 12, the positioning of the link member 32 between adjacent portions of two guide members 33 is shown and it is clear that by reason of the very small gap 41 between the longitudinally extended portions of the anges 38 and 39, the planer will be able to pass smoothly along its path without interruption or deviation.

Because of such gap 41, freedom to articulate is possible as between the long guide members 33 and the short link Imember 32 as will be particularly clear from FIG. 13 wherein the adjacent guide members are each at an angle wit-h respect to the intermediate member 32. Advantageously, because of the narrower width of the upper channel 40 of the short link member 32, the chain 42 engages such channel and adequately clears the adjacent upper groove 36 of the corresponding guide members 33. `The same is true with respect to the lower passageway 37 (see FIG. l0) and the appropriate lower channel (not shown) in t-he short reinforced link member 32.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the present invention provides guiding means for the planer and drive chain in the form of short thickened sections which alternate with longer sections of light construction. In turn, advantageously, the .guiding grooves or channels in the shorter sections differ sufciently in shape and clearance, and perhaps even in constructional lmaterial, e.g. ha-rder steel, with respect to the longer sections that the wearing forces exerted by the drive chain as it passes along the arrangement will be taken up mainly by the short sections with their thickened or reinforced portions, especially where the various sections are out of line with one another as will occ-ur during articulation of the arrangement to adjust to unevenness in the mine oor or where a portion of the arrangement is being advanced toward the mine face.

It will be realized that depending upon the prevailing circumstances, all of the conveyor sections and the guide sections or members may be provided with short intermediate sections or members in the manner of the -present invention. Nevertheless, it is also possible to construct only certain parts of the arrangement with the short sections or link members ofl the invention, or for that matter it is even possible to provide only short conveyor sections of reinforced design or only link members without accompanying conveyor section (see FIG. 9). In the case where short conveyor sections are used, the side walls and central horizontal plate interconnecting such side walls will be made of reinforced thicker walled materials so as to properly absorb the excessive forces in question.

While in the embodiments shown in the drawin-g, appropriate conveyor sections are included in most cases, the planer -g-uide arrangement may consist of short and long members or sections regardless of the particular construction of the adjacent conveyor. As aforesaid, the short link members or sections may be attached to the conveyor and the long guide members or sections m-ay be loosely disposed between .adjacent link members. Alternately, the long Iguide members or sections can be fastened to the conveyor and the short, thickened or reinforced link members o'r sections may be loosely inserted between adjacent long sections of the guide means. In any case, it is expedient to fasten the short, reinforced link members or sections so that the drive chain passing therethrough will exert the main wearing forces upon such short sections, even at the various possible angular positions which the short and long guide sections can assume with respect to one anothe-r. The desired result is most effectively accomplished by making the channels in the short link members appropriately narrower in size than 'the corresponding channels or grooves or passageways in the lon-ger guide members or sections.

Indeed, as the artisan will appreciate, the short link members or sections may be rigidly attached to matching short conveyor sections or can form therewith an integral or one-piece section. Naturally, in order that the long rguide members or sections, which are not provided in thickened or reinforced form, may at least be capable of withstanding the upsetting forces or end thrust forces without damage, the same may be reinforced or made thicker at their ends, at least over a short distance near the longitudinal ends thereof. For example, reinforcing structural pieces may be welded onto the ends of the long guide mrnebers to provide enlarged end f-ace areas of the desired shape and form.

Where the conveyor consists of relatively weak, light long sections, alternating with short, thick sections, it is advantageous to direct the advancing forces exerted by the advancing cylinders on the conveyor and in turn by t-he conveyor onto the guide means through such short, reinforced, or thickened conveyor sections. Where this is not possible to do, appropriate measures should be taken to relieve the light, long conveyor sections by transmitting indirectly the urging forces of the advancing cylinders substantially through the short, reinforced link members. This can be accomplished even where the advancing cylinders do not directly engage all of the short link members, Ias for example, by the convention-al provision for rails which abut the conveyor arrangement and which are engaged in a displaceable manner by the advancing cylinders. By this means, the rails can transmit the advancing forces substantially onto the short link members at least indirectly.

Actually, the long rg-uide members or sections may be designed as simple box-like sections made by bending sheet steel in the appropriate manner. If desired, a plurality of individual box-like `sections can be combined with one another in order to provide together the desired protile of the long guide members or sections, the component parts being simply welded to one another. It will be appreciated that no special fastening means need be provided for the long -guide members or sections whereby to attach the same to the conveyor, if such long guide members are engaged at their longitudinal ends by the supporting shoulders or wings of the short link members.

Understandably, if the transverse forces which must be transferred from the advancing cylinders to the guiding arrangement to move such arrangement toward the mine face are not excessively great, the conveyor could then, in turn, be made of similar box-like sections with adjacent ends thereof on the side adjacent the mine face being rigidly connected to a short, reinforced link member disposed thereat. If the long guide members or sections are then loosely mounted between adjacent short link members, transverse forces exerted by the advancing cylinders on the conveyor sections will be directly exerted -upon the short link members therethrough which, in turn, will carry the long guide members in the forward direction appropriately.

One particular advantage of the present invention is that a relatively loose, articulatable guiding arrangement may be provided in which the long guide members or sections need not be attached in any special manner to the conveyor sections, nor for that matter to the adjacent short, reinforced link members, except by way of the wings or shoulders on the link members. Due to the shape of the wings or shoulders which follow the form of at least a portion of the inside wall of the long guide members, the correct positioning of the long guide members will be assured even where the long guide member on either or both sides of the short link member are at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the short link member. The artisan will appreciate from the foregoing that the long guide members may be rigidly aixed to the appropriate conveyor sections with the short link members inserted loosely between such guide members. Of course,

1 1 the wings Ior shoulders will be provided in this embodiment as well.

As may be best appreciated from FIG. 3, due to the presence of the upper channel in the short link member and the lower groove, as well as the appropriate corresponding parts of the long guide member, the planer will be prevented from tipping or executing movements in the transverse direction, i.e. out of the normal path of movement of the planer along the mine face. These general features, however, are more specifically covered in co-pending U.S. application 300,285 noted above.

By reason of the narrower width of the passageways for the driving chain in the short link members, as compared with those in the long guide members, the long guide members will achieve a very long operating life in spite of their thin-walled construction as any friction and wear will be exerted by the chain in the link members rather than in the guide members. This is true even where the guiding arrangement is articulated such that the longitudinal axis of one or more of the guide members may be at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the appropriate link members. Obviously, the articulating nature of the planer guiding arrangement in accordance with the invention is of extreme importance in mining operations as the arrangement is thus enabled to adapt itself to the changing shape of the mine face and the mine iioor.

Depending upon the nature and construction of the outwardly directed flanges of the guide members and link members, i.e. at the sides thereof adjacent the mine face, the thickness of the mineral to be extracted in a given pass of the planer may be predetermined, as for example, by the extent which the cutting edges of the planer exceed the outer edge of the outwardly directed flange. This feature is more fully disclosed in co-pending U.S. application, Serial No. 252,528, filed January 18, 1963.

With respect to the very narrow or very short link member and conveyor section shown in FIG. 8, it will be appreciated that such arrangement is advantageous as it permits relatively small and light elements to be replaced when worn with a minimum of effort. lf a linking member `and corresponding conveyor section of longer longitudinal dimension were employed, obviously, the replacement of these parts would be more troublesome. More importantly, it is less expensive to provide very short link members and conveyor sections such as those illustrated in FIG. 8 than to provide similar sections and members of longer dimensions, since substantially the same period of use may be attained with each. In any case, because of the provision for comparatively short link members as opposed to the long guide members, the wear and tear will be concentrated on the easily replaceable link members.

What is claimed is:

1. Planer guide link which comprises a guide link member adapted to be extended in a predetermined longitudinal direction and having a shorter dimension in said longitudinal direction than the dimension thereof in the corresponding transverse direction to said longitudinal direction, said member having a planer guide surface extending in said longitudinal direction on one lateral side thereof and channel means extending in said longitudinal direction on the other lateral side thereof, the upper portion 4of said channel means having a slit therealong extending in said longitudinal direction, linking edge means extending in said longitudinal direction being 4provided on each end of saidmember in said longitudinal direction for linking the ends of said member in said longitudinal direction with corresponding ends of planer guide members to form thereby an articulatable planer guide arrangement.

2. Link according to claim 1 wherein said guide link member is solid in form, said channel means extending in said longitudinal direction completely therethrough.

3. Link according to claim 1 wherein said linking edge means are defined by inwardly extending slots in said longitudinal direction in the ends of said guide link member.

4. Link according to claim 1 wherein said linking edge means are defined by outwardly extending wings in said longitudinal direction on the ends of said guide link member.

5. Link according to claim 1 wherein a mining conveyor section of corresponding dimension in said longitudinal direction is attached to said guide link member at the lateral side thereof remote from said planer guide surface.

6. Link according to claim 5 wherein said guide link member and said mining conveyor section are integral.

7. Planer guide arrangement adapted to rest on a mine floor for guiding a planer longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, which comprises a plurality of elongated planer guide members adjacent one another in longitudinal alignment in a predetermined longitudinal direction, a corresponding guide link member having a shorter dimension in said longitudinal direction than the dimension thereof in the 'corresponding transverse direction to said longitudinal direction and being articulatingly interposed between the adjacent ends of at least some of the planer guide members, elongated upper groove means disposed longitudinally along the upper portion of said planer guide member on one lateral side thereof, elongated lower groove means disposed longitudinally along the lower portion of said planer guide member on the other lateral side thereof, elongated track means extending longitudinally between said upper and lower groove means, channel means extending in said longitudinal direction on one lateral side of each said guide link member and a planer guide link surface extending in said longitudinal direction on the other lateral side of each said guide link member, said one lateral side of said guide link member in the arrangement being the same side as said one lateral side of said planer guide member and said other lateral side of said link member being correspondingly the same side as saidother lateral side of said planer guide member, the upper portion of said channel means having a slit therealong extending in said longitudinal direction, said upper groove means being in longitudinal alignment with each corresponding upper portion of said channel means and the slit thereof and said track means being 'm longitudinal alignment with each corresponding planer guide link surface, said guide link members being entirely of more reinforced construction than that of the planer guide members, whereby to form an articulated reinforced longitudinal support means adapted to extend along a mine face for supportingly receiving a planer thereon for travel therealong in sliding abutment with said track means and in turn said planer guide link surface with corresponding portions of such planer being slidably retained in said lower groove means and in said upper groove means and in turn in the upper portion of said channel means through the corresponding slit to permit the planer to be conducted along said support means without displacement transversely thereof while permitting the support means to articulate at the guide link members without undue wear on the adjacent planer guide members.

8. Arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said guide link members are solid in form, said channel means extending completely therethrough in said longitudinal direction.

9. Arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the width of the upper portion of said channel means is slightly narrower than that of said Iupper groove means.

10. Arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said planer guide members and said guide link members are attached respectively at said one lateral side to correspondingly dimensioned sections of a mining conveyor in said longitudinal direction.

11. Arrangement according to claim wherein the mining conveyor sections are integral with the corresponding planer guide members and guide link members.

12. Arrangement according to claim 7 wherein linking edge means extending in said longitudinal direction are provided on each end in said longitudinal direction of said guide link members and cooperating longitudinally eX- tending linking edge means are provided on each longitudinal end of the planer guide members adjacent thereto for articulatingly linking the corresponding ends of the planer guide members with the guide link members.

13. Arrangement according to claim 12 wherein as to a planer guide member and guide link member adjacent one another, the linking edge means on one of said planer guide and guide link members are defined by inwardly extending slots in said longitudinal direction in the ends of such member with the corresponding linking edge means on the other of said planer guide and guide link members being defined by outwardly extending wings in said longitudinal direction on the ends of such member.

14. Arrangement according to claim 7 wherein each said guide link member is provided with a link member lower groove on said other lateral side thereof in alignment with the lower groove means of the adjacent planer guide members.

15. Arrangement according to claim 14 wherein at least some of said planer guide members and guide link members are provided with a knife Iprobe laterally outwardly of said lower groove means and said link member lower groove respectively for engaging the lower portion of the adjacent mine face thereat.

16. In a planer guide arrangement adapted to rest on a mine floor in a predetermined longitudinal direction for guiding a planer longitudinally back and forth along a mine face for the extraction of mineral from the mine face, including a plurality of adjacent elongated mining conveyor sections adapted to extend longitudinally along a mine face, said conveyor sections having opposing vertical side wall means and a central horizontal conveyor path means, and a corresponding plurality of adjacent elongated planer guide sections disposed longitudinally along said conveyor sections and secured at a corresponding lateral side to said conveyor sections resectively, each side guide section including upper groove means on one lateral side thereof, said one side being the side adjacent the corresponding conveyor section, lower groove means on the other lateral side of said guide section, track means extending between said upper and lower groove means and lower passageway means disposed below said upper groove means, said upper groove means representing the housing for the forward drive cable means for driving the planer and a guideway for the portion of the planer to which the drive cable means are attached, said lower passageway means representing the housing for the return drive cable means, said lower groove means representing a guideway for slidably retaining a corresponding portion of such planer and said track means representing a support surface for slidably receiving such planer thereon for travel therealong, the improvement which comprises a corresponding guide link member having a shorter dimension in said longitudinal direction than the dimension thereof in the corresponding transverse direction to said longitudinal direction and being articulatingly interposed between adjacent planer guide sections, each said link member having an upper channel means extending in said longitudinal direction provided with a slit therealong extending in said longitudinal direction in alignment with the corresponding upper groove means of the adjacent guide sections, a lower channel means extending in said longitudinal direction in alignment with the corresponding lower passageway means of the adjacent guide sections, and a planer guide surface extending in said longitudinal direction in alignment with the corresponding track means of the adjacent guide sections, the guide link members being entirely of more reinforced construction than that of the adjacent guide sections with said upper channel means and lower channel means having a width slightly narrower than that of the corresponding upper groove means and lower passageway means respectively, whereby to form an articulated reinforced longitudinal sectional arrangement adapted to extend along a mine face while accommodating unevenness in the mine floor and mine face for supportingly receiving a planer thereon for travel therealong in sliding abutment with said track means and in turn the planer guide surfaces with corresponding portions of such planer being slidably retained in said lower groove means and said upper -groove means and in turn the upper channel means through the corresponding slits, to permit the planer to be conducted along the sectional arrangement without displacement transversely thereof while permitting the arrangement to articulate at the guide link members without undue wear on the adjacent planer guide sections even under substantial longitudinal thrust.

17.-Improvement according to claim 16 wherein said guide link members are provided with correspondingly longitudinally dimensioned mining conveyer sections interposed between adjacent elongated mining conveyor sections correspondingly disposed adjacent elongated planer guide sections.

18, Improv-ement according to claim 16 wherein said guide link members are solid in form with said upper and lower channel means and said slits extending completely therethrough in said longitudinal direction.

19. Improvement according to claim 18 wherein outwardly extending wings in said longitudinal direction are provided on the respective ends in said longitudinal direction of said guide link members for insertion within the corresponding lower passageway means of the adjacent planer guide sections, said wings being shaped to abut articulatingly a portion of the inside wall of the adjacent lower passageway means for providing the articulating linkage between the correspondingly adjacent guide link members and planer guide sections.

20. Improvement according to claim 19 wherein each said guide link member is provided with a link member lower groove in alignment with the lower groove means of the adjacent planer guide members.

21. Improvement according to claim 20 wherein at least some of the planer guide members and guide link members are provided with a knife probe laterally outwardly of said lower groove means and said link member lower groove respectively for engaging the lower portion of the adjacent mine face thereat.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner. 

1. PLANER GUIDE LINK WHICH COMPRISES A GUIDE LINK MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE EXTENDED IN A PREDETERMINED LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION AND HAVING A SHORTER DIMENSION IN SAID LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THAN THE DIMENSION THEREOF IN THE CORRESPONDING TRANSVERSE DIRECTION TO SAID LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION, SAID MEMBER HAVING A PLANER GUIDE SURFACE EXTENDING IN SAID LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION ON ONE LATERAL SIDE THEREOF AND CHANNEL MEANS EXTENDING IN SAID LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION ON THE OTHER LATERAL SIDE THEREOF, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CHANNEL MEANS HAVING A SLIT THEREALONG EXTENDING IN SAID LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION, LINKING EDGE MEANS EXTENDING IN SAID LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION BEING 